On April 19, 2017, in the office of DEC-place, representatives of human rights organizations presented their alternative reports within the 3rd cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of the situation in the field of human rights in Ukraine.

The event was held at the initiative of UNDP and the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union. Consideration of the official report of Ukraine is expected after the Government’s submission in November 2017 the own assessment of the measures recommended by the previous UN session in 2012.

We recall that in 2015, given the beginning of the military aggression, the civil society of Ukraine has prepared an interim alternative report, where for the first time requirements to the government of Ukraine were announced. The requirements are needed to overcome the crisis related to the humanitarian catastrophe in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

Positions of UHHRU were voiced by Bohdan Moysa, an analyst, Oleh Martynenko, Head of the analytical direction of the Union, Serhii Burov, Head of the educational direction, and Daria Svyrydova, a lawyer. They presented proposals of the Union to the government of Ukraine.

Compilation of alternative reports of the civil society “Universal Periodic Review, an alternate dimension. The third cycle of UPR, Ukraine” is available for review at the link.

Special attention was paid to the situation in Crimea and challenges related to the inability of the traditional criminal justice system to protect fundamental human rights. UHHRU experts noted that during three years of the military aggression the state was unable to create a single database of persons who died during the conflict; database of the damaged property; separate database of combatants, who are suspected/accused of crimes committed in the conflict zone. All these create uncertainty of citizens in fundamental functions of the state to protect the rights and interests related to the investigation of war crimes, mechanisms of exchange of prisoners, compensation for victims of conflict, social protection IDPs, and movement of citizens across dividing lines.

Therefore UHHRU, among other NGOs, has practically announced the first requirement to the government of Ukraine regarding the need to introduce the principles of Transitional Justice in the practice of judicial and law enforcement bodies of Ukraine and to quickly reform the civil security sector.

Photo – UNDP in Ukraine